Football fans descend on Russia ahead of 2018 World Cup

The 2018 World Cup in Russia kicks off with the host nation taking on Saudi Arabia in the first game in less than 48 hours from now.

The South Korean national squad has already arrived at their base camp in St. Petersburg,... receiving a rapturous reception from South Koreans living in the city.

Our Won Jung-hwan reports.

The final countdown is on for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Games will be played in eleven cities across the country, with the first match -- Russia versus Saudi Arabia -- kicking off in Moscow on Thursday at 6PM, local time.

Russia is welcoming football fans from around the world... and everyone's excited for the action to start.

"We are so excited and we are following the Australian team for the three group games, and we are back in Moscow for some Round of 16 matches. Yeah we are very excited about the whole thing."

"Actually as you know Brazil has already won this tournament many times,… I think team is really good right now, the performance should be amazing."

The 23-man South Korean squad, which had been training in Austria since June 3rd,... arrived at their St. Petersburg base camp on Tuesday to put in their final preparations for the big tournament.

The South Korean squad are staying at the New Peterhof Hotel and will train at Spartak Stadium in Lomonosov.

Arriving at the hotel in a bus emblazoned with the slogan "Tigers of Asia, Conquer the World",… the national team received a warm welcome from some 150 South Koreans living in St. Petersburg.

The fans expressed their support for the players as they prepare for the biggest tournament in world sport.

"Welcome to Russia. Please don't get injured and show us your best "

"Keep in shape... and go for it "

According to an official from the Korea Football Association,… the decision to select St. Petersburg as the base camp was due to its convenience in terms of training facilities, the surrounding environment and its location in relation to other cities.

The three cities where South Korea will play their group matches -- Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on Don and Kazan -- are only around a two-hour flight from St. Petersburg.